Reclaiming Refugees Welcome
The phrase ‘refugee welcome’ has become increasingly politicized due to the rise of xenophobic ideologies. As a result, expressing solidarity with refugees has transformed into a controversial political act. While this could theoretically lead to an increase in voices of solidarity, in practice we often see the opposite effect: People who wish to welcome refugees feel intimidated or hesitant to speak out openly, resulting in a decrease in audible expressions of support.
RWW is a week of solidarity rooted in radical hope, resilience, and social justice.
From June 16–22, RWW invites communities across the Netherlands to come together through events, workshops, art, music, food, and storytelling, centering refugees and migrants as active contributors to society. In this space, we embrace hope not as passive optimism but as an act of defiance against systems of oppression, challenging exclusionary policies and imagining a future where all belong.
What We Do
We connect passionate individuals and groups with venues, funders, programmers, and resources to create impactful events across the Netherlands.
Who We Are
RWW is led by a core coalition of dedicated refugee-led and grassroots organizations working on voluntary basis:
- Mohammed Badran – Founder of Syrian Volunteers Netherlands
- (SYVNL)
- Yordi Lassooy-Tekle – Founder of Migration Inc.
- Sajad Salmanpour – Founder of Queer Work
- Anna Bilenka: Leader in the Ukrainian Community and founder the
- book club Women in Books
- Elena Ponzoni – Affiliated with the Refugee Academy at VU
- University
Operational team:
- Dana Eid
- Stefanie Tan
- Nour Sadat
- Mohammed Badran
Take part in RWW
Submit your idea or volunteer to help us bring Refugee Welcome Week to life!